NAG PUR: The new opening pair of M Vijay and Virender Sehwag gave a steady start to India against Australia in the fourth and final Test match of the Border-Gavaskar Trophy series at Vidarbha Cricket Association stadium in Nagpur on Thursday. After 10 overs, India were 50/0.
India won the toss and elected to bat as 24-year-old Tamil Nadu opener M Vijay made his Test debut, in place of Gautam Gambhir, to give company to Virender Sehwag. V.V.S. Laxman got in his 100th Test cap.
India, 1-0 up in the series made another change with off spinner Harbhajan Singh, who missed the Delhi Test because of a toe injury, made a comeback in place of retired Anil Kumble.
In a highly controversial decision, the ICC Appeals Commissioner Justice Albie Sachs had upheld a one-Test ban on Gambhir without even hearing him which the BCCI refused to accept, saying it violated principles of natural justice.
Gambhir has been the nightmare for the Australian bowlers in the series so far having scored 463 runs, inclusive of a double hundred and a century, for an average in excess of 77.
Australia made one change in the eleven by strengthening the spin department, capping off spinner Jason Krejza who came in at the expense of steady pacer Stuart Clark.
Teams:
India: Murali Vijay, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly, VVS Laxman, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma
Australia: Simon Katich, Matthew Hayden, Ricky Ponting, Mike Hussey, Michael Clarke, Shane Watson, Brad Haddin, Cameron White, Brett Lee, Mitchell Johnson, Jason Krejza
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